Tampon container



Dec. 19, 1967 KUNITAMI ASAKA TAMPON CONTAINER Filed July 13, 1965 INVENTOR. Ku/v/ TAMI ASAKA 4 T 7' ORNE Y6.

FIGS

United States Patent 3,358,686 TAMPON CONTAINER Kunitami Asaka, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Anne Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Filed July 13, 1965, Ser. No. 471,532 Claims priority, application Japan, July 15, 1964, 39/55,871; July 24, 1964, 39/ 58,610 Claims. '(Cl. 128-263) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container for a tampon formed of a pliable bag open at one end and a cover plate attached to and forming a closure for the bag. The cover plate has intersecting cuts or slots. aligned across the opening in the bag which form a plurality of displaceable flaps affording an opening through the cover plate. By pushing on the eX- terior of the pliable bag a tampon may be dislodged from the container through the opening formed by the flaps in the cover plate. Additionally, a tampon can be reinserted into the container through the flaps in the cover plate. The cover plate may be formed of a single layer or a multiple number of layers with at least one of the layers forming the closure for the bag.

Summary of the invention This invention relates, in general, to tampon construction and, in particular, to a new and useful tampon with a sanitary container for storing the tampon and permitting the easy insertion thereof into a body cavity.

The present invention is an improvement over prior art devices, particularly in respect to the provision of a simple container construction for a tampon, which in cludes at least one outer cover plate having a central opening and with a thin film or bag secured to the plate and forming a pocket therewith for receiving a tampon. In a preferred arrangement, the plate advantageously includes a central cross cut portion defining an opening with flaps between the cuts which close the major portion of the opening, but which may be pressed outwardly for insertion of the tampon into a body cavity, or for the removal of the tampon from the cavity for storage in a bag.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved tampon and container construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sanitary container for a tampon, which includes a cover portion to which is attached a thin or pliable bag forming a pocket for the reception of the tampon, and made of a material which permits the bag to be directed out of the pocket by pressing the pocket toward the opening of the cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tampon made up of at least one or a plurality of plate elements at least one of which defines a cover having central cross cuts defining flaps which close a bag which is secured to the plates, but which may be manipulated by a finger for the purpose of dispensing a tampon contained in the bag.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tampon and a container therefor which is simple in design, of antiseptic construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a tampon and container constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2, but indicating the manner in which a tampon is dispensed from the container;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective elevational and sectional view of the tampon and container of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in particular, the invention embodied therein in FIGS. 1-4 comprises a sanitary container or receptacle generally designated 10 for holding a tampon 1. In accordance with the inventiomthe container 10 includes a fiat cover plate 4 made of a semirigid material such as plastic or cardboard and to which is secured a soft, thin film bag 2 around the periphery of a central opening 3 defined in the plate. The bag 2 may be secured such as by heat sealing, stitching or adhesive.

The tampon is of a material such as paper, cotton or similar absorbent material which is compressed into a cylindrical form. In some instances, the tampon is packed with a few dozen of water absorbing paper layers of purified cotton. Each tampon 1 advantageously includes a pulling cord' 5 or thread which is'secured to the compressed cylindrical portion and which advantageously eX- tends from the bottom of the tampon out of the bag 2 through the opening '3 and over the cover plate 4.

A'feature of the construction is that the cover plate 4 is provided with central'cross cuts or slots 12 which intersect centrally over the openings 3 and over the central bag 1. The cross cuts 12 define pie-shaped flaps 14 over the opening 3, which may be deflected upwardly to per mit the tampon 1 to be removed from the bag 2.

As best indicated in FIG. 3, the container 10 is such that the tampon 1 may be carried within the bag 2, which is advantageously made of a synthetic resin, synthetic rubber or natural rubber. In this manner, the tampon is not exposed to the dirt of the atmosphere and will be carried in an antiseptic manner. In addition, when it is desired to insert the tampon 1 into a body cavity, it is merely necessary to locate the cover 4 adjacent the cavity and to urge the tampon 1 out of the bag 2 by applying pressure with a finger 16 as indicated in FIG. 3.

A further feature of the construction is that the cross cuts 12 are provided with a widened slot portion 6 adjacent at least one inner edge for permitting the passage of the pulling thread 5 therethrough. After the tampon is inserted into the body cavity, the pulling thread will be in a position for removal of the tampon which may again be placed inside the bag 2 by grasping the tampon with the fingers applied over the outside of the bag 2. With the device, it is not necessary to touch any part of the body during either insertion or removal of the tampon.

An alternate embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5 and comprises a receptacle 10' for a tampon 1'. In this em bodiment, a thin film bag 2' is secured between a plurality of layers of a multilayer cover plate generally designated 4'. In this embodiment, the cover plate 4' includes outer cardboard or semi-rigid material ring layers 16 and 18, which are secured such as by adhesive to an annular margin 2a of the film :bag 2 and to a cover disc 20, having central cross cuts 22 which define pie-shaped flaps 24 above a central opening 26 defined by the cover plate 4. A widened thread opening 30 is made at an inner end of one of the cross cuts 22 as in the other embodiment.

With this embodiment of FIG. 5 the thick supporting plate 4 is held by the fingers and oriented adjacent the body cavity and the tampon or menses absorbent cotton 1 is guided out of the bag 2' by grasping the exterior the flaps 24 are pushed outwardly to permit the transfer of the tampon from the container to the body cavity. After insertion the flaps 24 return to their normal position to close the container opening 26. In this embodiment, the cover plate 4 is advantageously made of an elastic rubber material which is soft to the touch so that no unpleasant sensation will be experienced when it is placed against the body.

With both embodiments it is possible to insert and remove the tampon without touching the tampon with the fingers of the hands.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise Without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A tampon container comprising a bag for the recep tion of a tampon, said bag having an opening in one end thereof, a cover plate attached to said bag at its opening and forming a closure for the opening, means in said cover plate for aifording an opening therethrough for the passage of a tampon through the cover plate, said bag being formed of a pliable material whereby a tampon can be dislodged from the bag through the opening in the cover plate by exerting a pushing action on the exterior of the bag.

2. A tampon container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover plate has a pair of intersecting cuts in its surface in alignment with the opening in said bag, said cuts in said cover plate arranged for forming slotted openings therethrough.

3. A tampon container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a pair of intersecting slotted openings extend through said cover plate in alignment with the opening in said bag, a plurality of displaceable Wedge-shaped flaps formed in said cover plate by said intersecting slotted openings, said flaps forming the closure for the opening in said bag whereby said flaps are displaceable from the plane of said cover plate for permitting a tampon to be dislodged from or inserted into said bag.

4. A tampon container, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cover plate extends radially outward from the opening in said bag.

5. A tampon container, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said cover plate is formed of a plurality of layers of material having at least one layer extending across and forming the closure for the opening in said bag.

6. A tampon container, as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least one other of said layers is superposed upon said layer forming the opening in said bag, said other layer having an opening therethrough registering with the opening in said bag. v

7. A tampon container, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said layer of said cover plate forming the closure for said bag is formed of a semi-rigid flexible material for providing the displaceable flaps at the opening of said bag.

8. A tampon container, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bag is formed of a thin film material.

9. A tampon container, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said slotted openings in said cover plate are disposed perpendicularly to one another.

10. A tampon container, as set forth in claim 7, wherein at least one of said slots has a widened portion for re ceiving a thread attached to a tampon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,666 7/1959 Draghi 128-285 2,136,352 11/ 1938 LHommedieu 206-56 2,543,190 2/ 1951 Museka'mp 206-56 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TAMPON CONTAINER COMPRISING A BAG FOR THE RECEPTION OF A TAMPON, SAID BAG HAVING AN OPENING IN ONE END THEREOF, A COVER PLATE ATTACHED TO SAID BAG AT ITS OPENING AND FORMING A CLOSURE FOR THE OPENING, MEANS IN SAID COVER PLATE FOR AFFORDING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH FOR THE PASSAGE OF A TAMPON THROUGH THE COVER PLATE, SAID BAG BEING FORMED OF A PLIABLE MATERIAL WHEREBY A TAMPON CAN BE DISLODGED FROM THE BAG THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE COVER PLATE BY EXERTING A PUSHING ACTION ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE BAG. 